Agenda Package - City of Vernon

5.5 Parks and Open Space
Two distinct parks spaces would characterize the Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre: Marshall
Field and a new paik, tentatively refened to as the Lakeshore Neighbourhood Park. Both of
these parks would be supplemented by a network of pathways and trails, including those that
follow ihe lakeshore and wetland areas. Marshall Field would continue to provide facilities for
organized sports and for large sporting events.
The Lakeshore Neighbourhood Park is envisioned as a centre for community interaction in the
Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre. The uses within the park would be designed to maximize the
amount of activity that takes place in the park at different times of the day and throughout the
year. These yeai-round uses aim to keep residents and tourists alike coming to the Waterfront
Ñeighbourhood Centre, making businesses more viable and the park itself a safer, more vibrant
ptaãe to be. The Greater Vernon Parks and Recreation Master Plan identifies the subject
þroperties as valuable for waterfront park use and some of these properties are in Regional
District ownershiP.
The creation of a neighbourhood park along the Waterfront would allow more local residents to
enjoy the lakeshore.lt would provide a large central area for residents to meet and socialize,
hold-special events or simply enjoy the views of the lake. This neighbourhood park would foster
greater community interaction, promote health and well being and act as a hub for the network
of trails going to and from the Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre.
One of the goals of the Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre Plan is to increase access to
Okanagan Lake and to connect parks both within the Plan Area and in the City. Polices in the
Land U1e Designation and Transportation Demand Management sections of this Plan speak to
the creation ofã public pathway along the lakeshore. The Marshall Wetlands would include a
pathway from Okanagan Landing Road to the lake, Marshall Field provides a network of
þathways, and Okanàgan Landing Road would have a multi-use trail that connects the
Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre to Paddlewheel Park in the west and the City Centre in the
east, See Map 4.
lncreased access to the lake for non-motorized watercraft, such as canoes or kayaks, has also
been identified as a desirable park amenity for Okanagan Lake. Access to Okanagan Lake for
such a use would be accommodated within the Neighbourhood Centre.
A public pier or wharf would be a valuable amenity and should be explored'
Policies
1. All properties in this designation are subject to a Riparian Areas Regulation (RAR)
assessment to determine the Streamside Protection and Enhancement Act (SPEA) setback
from the Okanagan Lakeshore and MarshallWetland'
Z. In partnership with the Regional District of North Okanagan, property owners, and the
Ribbons of ôreen Trails Society, complete the trail and pathway network as indicated in
Map 4.
3. Provide launch space for non-motorized watercraft.
Waterfront Neighbourhood Centre PIan - DRAFT 24 209